Whether Pauri Garhwal falls in ‘Durgam’ (relatively tough) location or ‘Sugam’ (accessible) location? Should Kalsi block in Dehradun district be considered ‘Durgam’ or ‘Sugam’

Employee unions are unhappy with the government’s move to classify postings.(HT File)

Whether Pauri Garhwal falls in ‘Durgam’ (relatively tough) location or ‘Sugam’ (accessible) location? Should Kalsi block in Dehradun district be considered ‘Durgam’ or ‘Sugam’.

Such discussions are often heard in the official corridors as the government gears up to implement the transfer act from this year.

A bill which became an act after governor’s assent was passed in the assembly during the winter session held at Gairsain in December.

The act promises a transparent transfer policy of the employees barring civil servants and judicial officials.

A letter dated February 6 circulated by chief secretary Utpal Kumar Singh to secretaries and department heads has asked for the inputs on the classification of ‘Sugam’ and ‘Durgam’ postings as per provision mentioned in the act.

The act has divided postings into three categories.

First and second includes, posting from the ‘Sugam’ (accessible) location to ‘Durgam’ (relatively tough) location and vice versa. Besides, there is a category ‘on request’ for employees who are ill or their spouse seriously ill.

“The transfer orders (as per act) have to be issued by June 10 and then it should also reflect in the government portal. The officials are required to complete the modalities as per suggested timeline,” the chief secretary said in the letter.

However, the major task for officials is to classify the definition of ‘Sugam’ and ‘Durgam’ postings. A similar effort was held during former chief minister BC Khanduri tenure but it did not reach any conclusion.

It is learnt that the transfer bill for employees was first passed in the assembly during Khanduri’s tenure.

Employee unions are unhappy with the government’s move to classify postings on its own.

“The exercise (on the classification of locations) has no meaning until employee leaders are involved in the deliberations,” said Arun Pandey, acting general secretary, State Employee Joint Council (SEJC). Pandey said there was a lot of confusion over the classification.

“Pithoragarh district is considered as Durgam as per standard definition but several locations in the district also connected with the road head which is a condition for considering an area as Sugam,” he said.

The activists, on the other hand, have doubt. “It is the wrong approach to say that hills are tough and plains are easy to work,” said Ratan Aswal, head of a think tank that has been raising the issue of distress migration from the hills.

“Who will go to hills if government classifies locations like this (Sugam and Durgam),” asked Aswal.

WHAT IS SUGAM

1.A location connected with rail head and road head.2.A location with access to hospital and school.

WHAT IS DURGAM

1.A location far off from the road head.2.Having no access to healthcare or school.